Dyeing machine



Sept. 10, 1929. s, s p o 1,727,414

DYEI'NG MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 10, 1929. s, SHAPIRO 1,727,414;

DYEING MACHINE Filed D80; 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

. "2 @34 WWW Fill Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL SHAIE'IRO, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DYEING MACHINE.

Application filed December 10, 1927. Serial No. 239,082.

This invention relates to the art of dyeing fabrics and has particular reference to mechanical means for the easy, safe, and rapid handling and dyeing of all kinds of fabrics and particularly manufactured garments.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide mechanical means for carrying forward the process of dyeing with a view to the utmost rapidity of operation and accompanying economy; the provision of means for handling large numbers of garments in the most favorable manner not only for the prevention of destructive influences so common in the dyeing of garments by the ordinary processes, but so as to insure the safeguarding of the garments throughout all stages of the dyeing process.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character described, which shall so immerse a plurality of arments into a dyeing vat as to permit the escape of air entrapped therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature set forth which includes improved means for sup porting a plurality of garments in freely hanging relation for vertical reciprocation in a liquid containing vat, for a dyeing operation, or the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, somewhat diagrammatic of a dyeing apparatus made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the dyeing vat showing particularly the method of insert ing the mass of garments there-into.

Fig. 4.- is a horizontal section on the line 4-t of Fig. 3 and on a larger scale.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the broken line 55 of Fig. 4;.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail of the basket structure or hanger mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Generally described, the invention aims primarily to provide a machine wherein a, large number of garments are retain-ed in freely hanging spaced relation in the dye vat and vertically reciprocated therein. The manner of supporting the garments is such that the dye reaches all parts of the same, particularly all the outside portions thereof. Each garment is sustained independently of the other, so that the dye can freely circulate therebetween. This is high- 1y important, since it has been found in the practice of the art heretofore known, that a portion of one garment, as, for instance, a sleeve, might become entangled with a por tion of another garment, and thus interfere with the circulation of the dye and the uniformity of color desired. While a particular form of garment hanger has been shown, it is not intended to limit the invention thereto. Any style of garment supporter may be used which permits the garment to be fully exposed to the dye, and which permits the garment to hang with a degree of free movement in the dye as may obtain due to reciprocation of the garments. By this invention, the capacity of the dye tank for the treatment of garments is rendered a maximum. Since the garments hang freely as above stated, there are no holes worn therein due to the frictionthat results from the reciprocation of the garments, as practised in the prior art. Furthermore, a considerable saving of the dye is effected, since the same is not spilled. 1

Referring now more specifically to the drawings I show my improved dyeing machine as comprising a vat 10 of any suitable size or construction but which may be thought of as from ten to twelve feet in height and diameter for a practical instalsuitable level with dyeing liquid 11.

lation, the same to be filled or supplied to a Located close over the bottom 12 of the dyeing vat is a steam coil 13 typifying any suitable means for heating the dyeing fluid. Lying over this coil is a false bottom 14 of any suitable material and provided with numerous perforations 15, thus insuring that the liquid in the vatwill be subjected readily to.

the heating action of the coil but any garments that may reach toward the bottom'12 of the vat will not come in direct contact with the coil. The steam or other heating medium will be understood as being supplied through an inlet pipe 16 with a cut off valve 17 for controlling it and a drain may be provided at 18 from the coil. The dye fluid may be drained from the vat at any time through an opening normally plugged at 19. A fresh supply of fluid may be admitted into the vat through a valve controlled pipe20.

Any suitable overhead structure may be employed as a means for carrying forward the process of dyeing over or in connection with that already described. As an illustration of suitable means for this purpose I provide an overhead rail or pair of rails 21 leading over the center of the vat and thence outward to any suitable distance over and along which a trolley 22 may be operated. Suspended from the trolley is any suitable power hoist suchas a difierential pulley or block and tackle 23 including a hook at. The flexible connection, such as a rope or chain 25, may extend to the floor or to any desired distance laterally from the track 21-.

(lo-operating with the vat and dye fluid therein is a support in the nature of a basket, the same comprising a frame 26 shown as circular in form and of sufficient strength to sustain a larger number of garments. Spanning the ring 26 are a series of radially disposed spokes or arms 27, and from each of these arms are suspended a multiplicity of individual garment hangers 28 connected preferably permanently by means of hooks 29. It is tobe understood that the number of hangers 28 will correspond to the number of garments to be treated at any one time and which garments are thereby held at suitable spaces from one another or so as to be suspended in the dyeing fluid in the most favorable manner.

The ring 26 has connected to it a series of chain sections 30 or their equivalent all meeting in a ring 31 centrally over the cage or basket and adapted to be engaged cletachably with the hook 24 aforesaid for bringing the basket into or out of the dye vat 10. The chains are adapted to be con nected severally to the ring 26' by means of the hooks 32 so that any of them maybe detached while the others are left connected if desired.

Mechanical means is provided for reciprocating the basket up and down within the vat 10 for the purpose of proper distribution of the color and to prevent any possible formation of streaks or other objectionable conditions in the garments. To this end I provide a motor M having suitable speed reduction gearing 83 leading toward a crank mechanism 34 journaled in a frame or pedestal 35 and from which extends a strong-flexible connection such as a chain 36 over overhead direction pulleys 37, said chain having at its other end a hook 38 for detachable connection with the ring 31 already mentioned. The rotation of the motor shaft produces a relatively slow rotation'ofthe crank shaft and a corresponding vertical reciprocation of the basket and garment suspended therefrom in the dyeing fluid. This mechanical operation 'of the basket may be continued as long as neces sary for the purpose for which the machine is intended. When the dyeing of one batch is completed, the operator by manipulation of the rope or chain 25 and after the hook ing of the hook 2% into the ring 31 will hoist the basket and dyed garments upward clear of the vat and will then cause the basket to be drawn laterally from the vat to any desired position for further action. In the usual practice of this machine such movement of the basket is along the trackway 21 over anauxiliary vat 39 into which the basket and garments are lowered by the reverse action of the differential hoist, thereby rinsing or cooling the garments in a supply of cold water 40 from which the basket is then again hoisted and transferred to a relatively stationary support a1 which may be mounted in fixed po sition' or upon a trolley on an auxiliary rail 21 in a convenient position so that the operator will have access to the garments to be removed from the basket and for the replacing of other garments thereon. An auxiliary block and tackle 23 may be emplyed for this purpose if desired. The basket mechanism includes a screen or mesh structure 42 suspended detachably from hooks 43 on the outside of the ring 26. This screen may be made of any suitable material and is adapted to be attached to the ring or removed therefrom as may be desired for the manipulation of the garments.

After the garments are connected to the individual hangers 28 and the screen is adjusted therearoimd, the procedure in causing the garments to be plunged into the dyeing liquid is as illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein is shown the construction with a portion of the chains 30 disconnected from the ring 26 while the bulk of the weight of the basket is borne by the two chains on opposite sides Y thereof. Connected at any desired point near the bottom of the screen or cage is a connection ll through the manipulation of which the screen is tilted through an angle slightly greater than 90 from the ver tical and is so caused to plunge the top portions of the garments first beneath the fluid and. thereby prevent the objectional ballooning or bulging of the garments due to trapped air. During reciprocation of the basket, the connection 14 may remain idle. It will be understood that suitable platforms, not shown, will be provided to enable the workman to position himself favorably for the carrying forward of these several operations. After the garments are plunged the cage is permitted to right itself into normal position as shown in Fig. 1 and the connec tion is changed from the hook 24 to the hook 38 at the appropriate time and the motor will then be started to provide the vertical reciprocations above described. It is contemplated that two sets of block and tackle and two cage devices will be employed in each apparatus so that while one basket full of garments is being dyed, the other basket will be manipulated for removing and replacing other garments preparatory to the next dyeing action. It follows, therefore, that the bulk of the work is performed by mechanical power means and the program is the most economical possible with respect to the dyers time.

The escape of air in the garments is facilitated by opening portions of the seams in the lower ends of the sleeves and in the bottoms of the garments, according to a custom in the trade. The basket is tipped through a requisite angle so that when fully immersed into the liquid, the upper free ends of the garments will, due to buoyancy, lie uppermost, so that the air in the garments will pass out therefrom through the slits mentioned. Furthermore, the basket may be tipped through an angle greater than 90 thus positively raising the lower ends of the garments above the upper ends. In practice, it is found that an angle of approximately 105 may sufiice for this purpose.

I claim:

1. In dyeing pparatus, a vat for the dyeing fiuid, an overhead member, a support for individual garments, aflexible connection suspending said support from said overhead member, and means for continually reciprocating the flexible connection to cause the support and garments to be reciprocated up and down within the fluid, and another flexible connection to the base of the support to tip the support through an angle of approximately 90 for the purpose set forth.

2. In dyeing apparatus, the combination with a vat for dyeing fluid, and means in the lower portion of the vat for heating the fluid, of a device for supporting a large number of individual garments in spaced, hanging relation, an overhead member, a connecconnection and device to cause the garments to reciprocate within the fluid, and means for hoisting the device and garments clear from the fluid, said device including garment hangers-engaging in the armholes of the garments.

8. The herein described garment support for dyeing machines comprising an open frame, attachment meansfor suspending the frame from an overhead support, a series of horizontally disposed arms spanning theinterior of the frame, and a multiplicity of individual garment hangers suspended from said arms, said hangers engaging the garments within the same.-

4. A'device as set forth in claim 3 including a net-like cage or basket suspended from said frame to enclose the garments.

5. A device of the character described,

including a vat for a dyeing liquid, means to hold a plurality of garments with their body portions free and in vertically extend-- ing relation in the liquid, and other means to reciprocate the first mentioned means in a vertical direction.

6. A device of the character described, including a vat for dyeing liquid, means to hold a plurality of garments in the armholes thereof, or the like, in parallel relation to each other, and other means to reciprocate the first mentioned means in a direction parallel to the garments.

7 A device of the character described, including a vat for adyeing liquid, means to hold a plurality of garments, or the like, in hanging parallel relation toeach other, and other means to lower the first mentioned means to cause the garments to enter the liquid with the garments extending in an approximately horizontal direction.

8. A device of the character described, including a vat for a dyeing liquid, means to hold a plurality of garments, or the like, in hanging parallel relation to each other, and other means to lower the first mentioned means to cause the garments to enter the liquid with the garments extending in an approximately horizontal direction, and power means serving to reciprocate the garments in the liquid in a direction parallel to the garments.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the garments are engaged with hangers disposed therein, and auxiliary means is provided to turn the garment holding means to sustain the garments suspended from the hangers in a vertical direction for vertical reciprocation.

10. A device of the character described, including a vat for dyeing liquid, means to hold a plurality of garments in separate planes and with the bodies of the garments entirely free, and means to reciprocate said garments in the liquid in a direction parallel to said planes.

11. A device of the character described, including a vat for a dyeing liquid, means to hold a plurality of garments spaced from one another, said means engaging within the garments but permitting the bodies thereof to hang entirely free, and other means to cause the garments to reciprocate in the liquid in a direction parallel to the garments.

12. A device of the character described, including a vat for a dyeing liquid, means to lower a plurality of garments into the vat, said means holding the garments in spaced relation to one another, said means engagiqg the garments withinthe armholes there- 0 .i

13. A device of the character described including a vat for a liquid, means engaging a plurality of garments within the sameto support the garments in freely hanging, laterally movable, spaced relation, and other means to reciprocate the garments in the liquid.

14:. Acdevice asset forth in claim 13, wherein a means is provided to lower the garments into the liquid in an approximately horizontally extending direction.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SAMUEL SHAPIRO. 

